This just in! The ghostly tail of Comet Lovejoy was sighted this morning, Dec. 20th, shining through the twilight glow of dawn over Australia. Peter Sayers sends this picture from Devonport, Tasmania:
"I was surprised to be able to see Comet Lovejoy in our Tasmanian summer early morning twilight with the waning Moon," says Sayers. "The comet's tail was just barely naked eye and perhaps a degree long."
The visibility of the tail could improve in the days ahead as the comet moves away from the sun and the background sky darkens accordingly. Early rising sky watchers should be alert for this rare apparition. [finder chart]
Solar wind
speed: 365.8 km/sec
density: 6.5 protons/cm3
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1356 UT
X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C2 1152 UT Dec20
24-hr: C2 1152 UT Dec20
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1300 UT
Daily Sun: 20 Dec 11
New sunspots are emerging over the sun's NE limb. Nevertheless, solar activity remains low. Credit: SDO/HMI
Sunspot number: 133
What is the sunspot number?
Updated 19 Dec 2011
Spotless Days
Current Stretch: 0 days
2011 total: 2 days (<1%)
2010 total: 51 days (14%)
2009 total: 260 days (71%)
Since 2004: 821 days
Typical Solar Min: 486 days
Updated 19 Dec 2011
The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 128 sfu
explanation | more data
Updated 19 Dec 2011
Current Auroral Oval:
Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/POES
Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 1 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 2 quiet
explanation | more data
Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 4.9 nT
Bz: 2.8 nT south
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1356 UT
Coronal Holes: 20 Dec 11
There are no large coronal holes on the Earthside of the sun. Credit: SDO/AIA.
